TCL Mobile’s virtual CES 2021 briefing for Australian media revealed it has expanded it’s product range a lot. Although we probably won’t see all of them for sale in Australia, I’m glad to see the most interesting products I was told about should be available here in 2021.
At the launch Aaron Zhang, CEO of TCL Communication said:
“After the successful launch of the TCL Mobile brand, 2021 will be a very important year for TCL’s business as we build on the momentum established last year and continue to grow as one of the world’s largest end-to-end global consumer electronics brands”.
NXTPAPER Tablet promises revolutionary new paper-like screen
Offering one of the most advanced eye protection displays on the market, TCL’s new NXTPAPER tablet aims to be a mobile companion for school, work, or play.
This Android 10 device features an 8.88 inch 1440 x 1080 FHD NXTPAPER screen that claims to offer a paper-like visual experience with no flicker or harmful blue light.
We’ll be sure to let you know if it fulfils this claim once we get our hands on a review unit and test it by reading some eBooks, as well as using it for usual tablet apps like Feedly RSS reading etc.
Designed specifically for larger format devices, NXTPAPER is said to offer a paper-like visual experience in full high-definition resolution, with considerably less eye strain and fatigue compared to most tablets.
For students and professionals, the TCL NXTPAPER is powered by an octa-core processor, and features a strong 5500mAh battery for over a full day of use, along with a 5-megapixel front facing camera and an 8-megapixel rear facing camera for remote classroom learning, video teleconferences, presentations and more.
The TCL NXTPAPER comes with a Kids Learning option, providing a child-friendly user interface and parental controls. It also works with Google Assistant, allowing users to seamlessly manage tasks, get answers to questions, and play music using voice commands.
To make sure users can both effectively connect and contribute on video calls or during virtual classes, the tablet offers both Wi-Fi and 4G connectivity. It has also received TUV Rheinland safety certification to ensure your child’s eyes are protected from harmful light.
Starting from April 2021, the TCL NXTPAPER will be available in Europe, Middle East/Africa, Latin America and Asia Pacific for 349 Euros.
NXTPAPER Tablet is an exciting innovation, we expect it to arrive Q2 2021 in Australia and when we test it in real life we hope the e-ink like screen will prove to be a real game changer merging the Android tablet / eInk eBook reader categories.
Detailed specifications for NXTPAPER are available as a PDF.
Smart OLED Glasses
TCL’s Wearable Display is a light and reasonably stylish pair of glasses that come with dual 1080p Full HD micro OLED displays built in.
They say that wearers can enjoy a 140-degree inch view from 4 meters away, and with a density of 49 pixels-per-degree (PPD), visuals should be sharp and incredibly vivid.
The Wearable Display is capable of connecting to hundreds of smartphones, tablets, laptops and 2-in-1 PCs from most manufacturers whose devices have a display port over USB-C that can support 1080p resolution.
Once connected, the device enables you to watch movies, play games and more from at home, on the road, or anywhere else, enjoying a truly immersive experience.
This wearable could be in Australia late 2021 pending TCL finding the right retail partner.
It will be interesting to see which apps eg Youtube and Netflix allow their output to be sent to the glasses over USB-C and whether the glasses are priced competitively enough to be a TV replacement for some people.
TCL 20 Range of Smartphones
Last but not least is the TCL 20 Series lineup of smartphones with NXTVISION 2.0 display technology. There are more than 2 models overseas but the TCL 20 5G and TCL 20 SE are the ones we’ll get in Australia.
The 20 Series of smartphones aim to blend a nature-inspired design with performance and affordability, offering upgrades over last year’s 10 Series of smartphones to handle the needs of today’s consumer, including a 5G model, improved imaging, performance and battery life.
The 20 Series features the latest TCL-made displays and the next generation of NXTVISION, TCL’s proprietary advanced display optimization and camera technology.
The TCL 20 5G, which features a larger 6.67-inch FHD+ Dotch display, is designed for those seeking powerful 5G performance along with an enhanced display and video streaming experience.
It’s yet to be confirmed which Australia will get out of the rumoured 128GB 6GB RAM or 256GB 6GB RAM versions.
If you’re a Netflix mobile watcher the TCL 20 5G supports HDR10 video playback for streaming TV series, documentaries and films on Netflix, providing users with the ability to watch videos as their creators intended.
The phone’s 5G capabilities are powered by a mid-range 8nm octa-core Snapdragon 690 5G chipset.
In an interesting move the TCL 20 5G’s power management is optimized by Smart 5G technology, which allegedly automatically switches between 4G and 5G bands based on data usage to help further stretch the built-in 4500mAh battery.
For those looking to capture photos and videos, the TCL 20 5G also features an AI-powered triple camera setup with technologies that enhance auto-focus and video image stabilization, along with low-light, high-resolution shots.
The 48 megapixel main rear camera takes detailed images and utilizes PDAF auto-focus for taking crisp and reliable pictures.
The TCL 20 5G comes in both Mist Gray and Placid Blue and is now available in Italy for 299EUR. It will be rolled out across multiple countries next month.
Detailed specifications for TCL 20 5G are available as a PDF.
The more affordable TCL 20 SE has a 6.82-inch, V notch display with 90 percent screen-to-body ratio for a maximized viewing experience, along with a 20.5:9 screen ratio which provides broad, cinematic-like viewing performance in a slim form factor.
To take further advantage of the large display, the TCL 20 SE also features a Smart Floating Window, which lets users browse the web or reply to messages while watching videos; the feature is triggered by swiping to the right or left corner, and can be adjusted in size or move to anywhere on the display.
The smartphone’s dual speaker design also improves the audio experience—no speakers are blocked when the device is being held in a user’s hand and it is also compatible with Hi-Res Audio certification.
To power all of these features, the TCL 20 SE has a Qualcomm octa-core chipset and a 5,000mAh battery. It also comes with On-The-Go reverse charging capability, making it possible to top up the battery of a friend’s device or a smaller gadget.
And, while maximized video entertainment and power are the foundations of the TCL 20 SE, the device’s quad rear camera comes with AI-powered color portrait and sky enhancement features, which are designed to automatically detect the intended subjects and adjust the background for more beautiful shots.
Additionally in a feature that sounds like an episode of “Black Mirror” the new AI Object Eraser is capable of clearing out people or objects that are in the background.
Detailed specifications for TCL 20 SE are available as a PDF.
The TCL 20 SE will be available this month in Nuit Black and Aurora Green across multiple countries for 149EUR.
We expect the TCL 20 5G and TCL 20 SE to be in Australia towards the end of Q1 2021 (Price and Date to be confirmed).
And there’s more (maybe)
TCL announced a lot more products at CES but it’s not yet clear which of them if any will be sold in Australia. We’ll let you know as soon as we find out.
What’s curious here, is the pogo pin connectors, set low on the backs of the tablets.
Neerav, was there any announcement made about docks for the tablets?
No word on those sorry